Mr Donne said, "Miraculously, the bottle did not break on impact - it is terrifying to think what would have happened if it had."

Mr Donne said Terry, 21, was supported in the attack by Chelsea teammate Jody Morris, 23, and Wimbledon defender Des Byrne, 21, who at one point also armed himself with a bottle and ran at two bouncers.

The brawl started after the players were drinking after midnight on January 4 at celebrity nightclub The Wellington, in Knightsbridge, London, the court heard.

Morris's behaviour became "loutish". When asked to leave he said to Mr Thirlwall, "Do you know how much I earn? I earn more in a day than you earn in a week. Do you know who we are? We could get you sacked."

A general melee took place in the club doorway, caught on CCTV. The alleged attack on Mr Thirlwall with a bottle was not captured on film.

The three men deny a joint charge of affray. Terry denies one count of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one of possessing a glass bottle as an offensive weapon. Byrne denies possessing an offensive weapon, another bottle.